Holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for oil paintings canvas mounted on rectangular sketch frames and the like in which the canvas is stretch over one side of the frame. The holder consists of a pair of C-shaped clamps integrally connected by a continuous web partially formed of the top legs of the C shapes, with the C shapes opening toward one another and having upwardly extending lips extending from the bottom legs which are adapted to lie in facing relation with faces of the rectangular members. A spring element engages the upper surfaces of the rectangular members and forces it downwardly toward the bottom leg of the C shaped clamps.

United States Patent Hadassah K. Sage;

Robert W. Johnston, Commonwealth Ave., Auburndale, Mass. 02166 Oct. 1 1, 1968 Feb. 16, 1971 Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented HOLDER 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 224/45 Int. Cl B65d 61/00 Field of Search 224/45, 45.8, 45.6, 45 (N), 45.10, 45.12, 45.13, 45.14,

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney-Wolf, Greenfield and Sachs ABSTRACT: A holder for oil paintings canvas mounted on rectangular sketch frames and the like in which the canvas is stretched over one side of the frame. The holder consists of a pair of C-shaped clamps integrally connected by a continuous web partially formed of the top legs of the C shapes, with the C shapes opening'toward one another and having upwardly extending lips extending from the bottom legs which are adapted to lie in facing relation with faces of the rectangular members. A spring element engages the upper surfaces of the rectangular members and forces it downwardly toward the bottom leg of the C shaped clamps.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a clamping mechanism and more particularly to a means for supporting a plurality of oil canvases which are stretched or mounted on conventional rectangular stretch frames in facing spaced relationship.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Both professional and amateur painters frequently use canvases or other sheet material that is stretched over a stretch frame. These frames are formed of four members end to end into a rectangular shape. The canvas or other material is stretched tightly across the opening enclosed by the rectangular stretch frame and attached over the outer periphery of the frame. Handling such frames, especially when the painting is wet often poses considerable problems. These problems are accentuated when a slow drying painting media such as oil is used and there is a need to transport the canvas from one place to another. Heretofore, wet canvases which might easily smudge if touched have been transported by expensive means with the ever present possibility that the surface might be accidentally touched, thus marring the painting. This problem is becoming more acute with the increased number of painters and the increased need to provide safe means for moving these wet canvases without subjecting them to the likelihood of damage. Previous attempts to provide satisfactory means for holding and moving paintings mounted on these frames including such as casings and holders have not been satisfactory and have not been acceptable for a variety of reasons. Perhaps one of the most important reasons is that these other means are expensive and cumbersome.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for handling a plurality of painted canvases and the like when mounted on stretch frames.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved holder specifically designed for handling a pair of oil canvas stretch frames with the frames being secured in opposed parallel relationship with the painted surfaces of the canvases stretched over the frames over the facing one another in spaced relation.

A further object of the present invention to provide an improved holder or carrier for both wet paintings mounted on stretch frames and the like are also rigid sheets of material.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive rugged easy to handle holder, that is compact, easily stored and is not likely to be damaged.

In the present invention there is provided a holder for paintings mounted on stretch frames that comprises a pair of opposed C-shaped clamps interconnected in rigid spaced facing relationship. A spring memberextends into the clamps to secure a section of the stretch frame within the C-shaped clamps interconnected with a pair of these frames being supported one in each clamp in spaced facing relation to each other, supporting the canvases free of engagement with a foreign object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The foregoing objects and advantages will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a holder embodying the present invention securing a pair of paintings on stretch frames shown in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the holder illustrated in FIG. I looking from the left; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional detail of a modification of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the holder which preferably is formed of steel or other suitable metal. The holder consists essentially of a pair of C- shaped clampsl and 2, intended to secure a pair of stretch frames 60 having canvases or like material 61 stretched over them. The stretch frames 60 are standard frames generally used by painters. These frames are ordinarily made of four uniformly dimensioned wooden elements nailed or glued into a rectangular shape. A canvas 61 stretched over the frame and is tacked on its outer surfaces by tacks 62. The clamps I and 2 may be formed of a single piece of metal with theclamps interconnected at their upper ends by a continuous web or bight3. Each clamp consists essentially of a top leg 4 with the top legs 4 continuous with one another through the interconnecting web or bight 3. The top legs 4 and web 3 are preferably coplanar. The clamps II and 2 each have outer legs 5 and 6 extending downwardly from the outward ends of the top legs 4 in parallel spaced relationshipylntegral with the lower edge of the rear legs of each of the C-shaped clamps are the bottom legs 7 and 8 respectively of C-shaped clamps 2 and I. These legs 7 and 8 extend toward one another parallel to the top legs 4 and terminate at ends 10 and 11 respectively. The width of the bottom legs 7 and 3 are such as to receive the width of the cross section of the stretch frame element or members 12. Similarly the heights of the outer legs 5 and 6 should be suffcient to receive the members 12 with a space 14 between the upper surfaces of the members 12 and the lower surfaces of the top legs 4. The inner edges 10 and 11 of the bottom legs 7 and 3 respectively are integral with the upwardly extending webs l5 and 16 respectively. These lips preferably extend upwardly approximately one-fourth inch to one-half inch, and are designed to engage the member 12 on the surface facing the back 64 of the canvas 61 with the painted surfaces 65 of the canvases facing each other in spaced relation.

Secured to the under surface of the bight 3 is a leaf spring 20. This leaf spring 20 is securedto the under surface of the bight 3 by rivets 21 or other suitable means with the rivets passing through the spring 20 and aligned holes in the bight 3. The spring 20 has ends 22 and 23 that extend respectively into the C-shaped clamps between the bottom legs and the top legs. The ends 22 and 23 are offset from the center portion but the offset ends 22 and 23 are spaced from the bottom legs a distance normally less than the height of the members 12. The normal untensioned position of these ends 22 and 23 is illustrated in dotted outline at 22A and 22B respectively with the members 12 inserted in the C-shaped clamps 1 and 2. The ends 22 and 23 exert a downward force toward the bottom legs to hold the members 12 in spring tensioned engagement against the bottom legs.

Also secured to the bight portion 3 is a handle 25. This handle has side walls 26 and 27 terminating at their lower ends in inwardly flared or turned lips 29. These lips 29 are suitably welded or otherwise secured to the lower surface of bight 3. Alternately the lips 23 may extend inwardly a sufficient distance to permit them to be secured to the bight 3 by the rivets 21 instead of by welding. The cross member or bight 30 of the handle 25 may be bent or rolled in transverse cross section as illustrated at 31 to provide an easy hand grip, as illustrated. Ancillary means may be provided to secure other flat articles such as Masonite boards, blocks of paper or other sheet material. These means comprise an elongated leaf spring 40 that extends over the bight 3 and legs 4 with the spring 40 secured to the bight by the rivet 21 or other suitable means. The ends of the spring 40 are downwardly flared and inwardly bent at 42 to engage the outer surface of the outer legs 5 thereby providing a spring tensioned clip which may be deflected away from the outer surface of the legs 5 so as to permit insertion between the inwardly bent portion 42 and the outer surface of the rear legs 5 of material such as Masonite, paper and the like.

Instead of an ancillary support, such as illustrated at 40, a spring support means may be provided as illustrated in FIG. 3. in this arrangement a pair of spring clamps may be provided on each of the outer surfaces of legs 5. The legs 5 in this modification are formed with dogs 50 at opposite ends. These dogs support or journal a shaft 51 that extends parallel to the wall 5. Also provided is a clamp element 54 of sheet material that is provided with a pair of opposed dogs 53 at opposite ends that are formed with holes. The dogs 53 and 50 and parallel to one another and are interengaged by the shaft 51 which extends through the dogs 50 and 53 at each of its ends. The ends of the shaft 51 are peened over to secure it in the dogs whereby element 54 is secured for pivoting about shaft 51. A helical spring 55 has a center portion coaxial with the shaft with the ends 56 and 57 of the spring bearing respectively against the outer surface of leg 5 and inner surface of element 54 to tension the lower end of element 54 toward the leg 5.

We claim:

1. A holder for oil painting canvas frames and the like having sheet material stretched over a member with a rectangular cross section comprising a C-shaped clamp having a rear leg, a top leg, a bottom leg, said legs integral with one another, said top and bottom legs extending from opposite ends of said rear leg in the same direction, a lip integral with the free end of said bottom leg and extending toward said top leg, said lip being of relatively thin construction and being adapted to be inserted between said canvas and its facing surfaces of said frame without damaging said canvas, said bottom leg, rear leg and lip being adapted to engage respectively three sides of said rectangular cross section, a spring having at least a portion thereof extending between said top and bottom legs and adapted to engage only the fourth side of said rectangular cross section and tension it toward said bottom leg and away from said top leg.

2. A holder as set forth in claim l having a pair of said C- shaped clamps arranged as parallel spaced mirror images of one another with said lips spaced but closer together than said rear legs, said top legs arranged as a continuous and integral unit with said rear legs extending in the same direction from opposite ends of said legs, said spring having a second portion extending between said top and bottom of each of said clamps.

3. A holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said top legs are integrally connected by a web and a handle extending from said clamps.

4. A holder wherein end bracket for oil painting canvass frames and the like having sheet material stretched over a member with a rectangular cross section comprising a pair of C-shaped clamps arranged as parallel spaced mirror images of one another, each of said clamps having a rear leg, a top leg, a bottom leg, said legs integral with one'another, said top and bottom legs extending from opposite ends of said rear leg and in the same direction, a lip integral with the free end of said bottom leg and extending toward said top leg, said bottom leg, rear leg and lip adapted to engage respectively three sides of said rectangular cross section, a spring having at least a portion thereof extending between said top and bottom legs and adapted to engage the fourth side of said rectangular cross section and tension it toward said bottom leg and away from said top leg, said spring comprising a leaf spring secured intermediate its ends to said web, said top leg of each of said brackets being integrally connected by a web and a handle extending from said, the lips of said clamps being spaced closer together than the rear legs of said clamps, said top legs being arranged as a continuous and integral unit with said rear legs extending in the same direction from opposite ends of said legs.

5. A holder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said leaf spring has offset ends projecting into said clamps.

6. A holder as set forth in claim 5 wherein said handle has ends connected at opposite sides of said web.

7. A holder as set forth in claim 6 having additional clamp means external of said C-shaped clan71ps.

8. A holder as set forth in claim wherein said additional clamp comprises spring means normally tensioned toward the outer surfaces of said rear legs.

9. A holder as set forth in claim 8 wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring.

10. A holder as set forth in claim 8 including a clamp member with said spring means comprising a helical spring engaging said clamp member. 

1. A holder for oil painting canvas frames and the like having sheet material stretched over a member with a rectangular cross section comprising a C-shaped clamp having a rear leg, a top leg, a bottom leg, said legs integral with one another, said top and bottom legs extending from opposite ends of said rear leg in the same direction, a lip integral with the free end of said bottom leg and extending toward said top leg, said lip being of relatively thin construction and being adapted to be inserted between said canvas and its facing surfaces of said frame without damaging said canvas, said bottom leg, rear leg and lip being adapted to engage respectively three sides of said rectangular cross section, a spring having at least a portion thereof extending between said top and bottom legs and adapted to engage only the fourth side of said rectangular cross section and tension it toward said bottom leg and away from said top leg.
 2. A holder as set forth in claim 1 having a pair of said C-shaped clamps arranged as parallel spaced mirror images of one another with said lips spaced but closer together than said rear legs, said top legs arranged as a continuous and integral unit with said rear legs extending in the same direction from opposite ends of said legs, said spring having a second portion extending between said top and bottom of each of said clamps.
 3. A holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said top legs are integrally connected by a web and a handle extending from said clamps.
 4. A holder wherein end bracket for oil painting canvass frames and the like having sheet material stretched over a member with a rectangular cross section comprising a pair of C-shaped clamps arranged as parallel spaced mirror images of one another, each of said clamps having a rear leg, a top leg, a bottom leg, said legs integral wiTh one another, said top and bottom legs extending from opposite ends of said rear leg and in the same direction, a lip integral with the free end of said bottom leg and extending toward said top leg, said bottom leg, rear leg and lip adapted to engage respectively three sides of said rectangular cross section, a spring having at least a portion thereof extending between said top and bottom legs and adapted to engage the fourth side of said rectangular cross section and tension it toward said bottom leg and away from said top leg, said spring comprising a leaf spring secured intermediate its ends to said web, said top leg of each of said brackets being integrally connected by a web and a handle extending from said, the lips of said clamps being spaced closer together than the rear legs of said clamps, said top legs being arranged as a continuous and integral unit with said rear legs extending in the same direction from opposite ends of said legs.
 5. A holder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said leaf spring has offset ends projecting into said clamps.
 6. A holder as set forth in claim 5 wherein said handle has ends connected at opposite sides of said web.
 7. A holder as set forth in claim 6 having additional clamp means external of said C-shaped clamps.
 8. A holder as set forth in claim 7 wherein said additional clamp comprises spring means normally tensioned toward the outer surfaces of said rear legs.
 9. A holder as set forth in claim 8 wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring.
 10. A holder as set forth in claim 8 including a clamp member with said spring means comprising a helical spring engaging said clamp member. 